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Bongo's re-election sparks riot
02/12/2005 08:52 - (SA)
Libreville - Police in Gabon clashed on Thursday with protesters called into the streets by opposition leaders disputing President Omar Bongo's re-election for another seven-year term.
Several hundred people begun the march outside a Libreville hotel, where Pierre Mamboundou and Zacharie Myboto said they refused to "recognise the validity of the election" held on Sunday.
Bongo, who had ruled the oil-rich former French colony in west Africa since 1967, was declared the winner by the Constitutional Court.
His two main rivals cried foul shortly after the poll ended a campaign dominated by his Gabonese Democratic Party machine.
Riot police attack marchers
According to reports, a few hundred metres from the hotel, police in riot gear attacked marchers, including women, with batons and tear gas.
Police made 23 arrests and a number of people were injured. Two journalists were also briefly detained, including an AFP correspondent.
Myboto, a former government minister who quit to denounce the corruption of the country's long-time rulers, said: "We reject and refuse to recognise the validity of this election" because of numerous irregularities.
He had teamed up with Mamboundou, leader of the "radical" opposition, who urged "Gabonese men and women to stand tall and march peacefully to take their destiny towards final victory".
Official court declaration
The Constitutional Court officially declared Bongo won 79.18% of the votes, while Mamboundou and Myboto respectively won 13.61% and 6.58%.
Myboto said: "Our compatriots should defend the legitimacy of the poll", adding that the authorities should be forced to "give back the results they have again stolen".
On Tuesday, as the interior ministry announced Bongo's victory before the official court declaration, Mamboundou was claiming victory for himself.
He said on Thursday: "The people themselves already know what they have to do."
Results 'illegitimate'
The candidates didn't outline how they intended to overturn a result they considered illegitimate, instead telling a joint press conference they would present the "real figures" to the Constitutional Court.
The conference begun two and a half hours late after riot police sealed off the town centre and surrounded the hotel.
Opposition leaders spent an hour negotiating with police, as Gabon's state prosecutor acted as mediator.
Tensions ran high, with hundreds of opposition supporters milling around the hotel. After the march begun, the protesters were still not sure what direction to take - but police moved in.
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